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Sikh Practices
Sikh practices () are guidelines laid out by the Gurus for the practice of the "Sikh way of life". The Gurus emphasise that a Sikh should lead a disciplined life engaged in Naam Simran, meditation on God's name, Kirat Karo, living an honest life of a house-holder, and Vand Chaako, sharing what one has with the community. This translates into hard work, honest living, love of fellow humans and through them service of the God, the primal power. This way of life is said to have been stripped of complications, myths, jargon, rituals and exploitation of man by man in the name of religion. No benefits are gained by where and to which family the person is born to – All have to undertake the rigours of Simran (meditation) and Sevā (selfless service) to progress spiritually. The Guru Granth Sahib asks the Sikh to "Practice truth, contentment and kindness. Disciplined life The Sikh is required to undertake the following observances: # Wake up very early in the morning. # Bathing and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sikh Gurus
The Sikh gurus (Punjabi language, Punjabi: ਸਿੱਖ ਗੁਰੂ; Hindi: सिख गुरु) are the spiritual masters of Sikhism, who established the religion over the course of about two and a half centuries, beginning in 1469. The year 1469 marks the birth of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. Nine other human gurus succeeded him until, in 1708, the ''Guru Gaddi, Guruship'' was finally passed on by the tenth guru to the holy Sikhism, Sikh scripture, Guru Granth Sahib, which is now considered the living Guru by the followers of the Sikh faith. The guruship was also passed onto the ''Guru Panth'', consisting of the Khalsa; however, this form of guruship went into decline following to rise of Ranjit Singh. Etymology and definition ''Guru'' (, ; , Punjabi language, Punjabi: ਗੁਰੂ, International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: ''guru'') is a Sanskrit term for a "teacher, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. Bhai Vir Singh (writer), V ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gurbani
Gurbani (, pronunciation: , lit. the Guru's words) is a Sikh term, very commonly used by Sikhs to refer to various compositions by the Sikh Gurus and other writers of Guru Granth Sahib. In general, hymns in the central text of the Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib, are called ''Gurbani''. Among Amritdhari Sikhs, a few texts from Dasam Granth which are read as Nitnem, like ''Tav-Prasad Savaiye'' and ''Chaupai'', are also considered ''Gurbani''. In Adi Granth, Gurbani is a sound which comes directly from the Supreme and the text is a written form of the same in worldly language and scripts. It is also called ''Guru’s Bani''. Prior to reading Gurbani or meditating, it is compulsory to cover the head with a turban, dupatta or other cloth, as well as removing shoes, performing at least the ''Panj Ishnan'' (washing of the 5 main parts of the body), and if possible using a teeth-cleaning twig. Gurbani are explanations of qualities of the Primal Lord and Soul which a Sikh should co ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Antam Sanskar
Antam Sanskar (Gurmukhi: ਅੰਤਮ ਸੰਸਕਾਰ ''atama sasakāra'') refers to the funeral rites in Sikhism. ''Antam'' (or ''Antim'') means "final", while '' sanskar'' means "rite". There are three major components of a Sikh funeral: the crematorium, the gurdwara ceremony, and the scattering of the ashes. There are variations of these three components regarding timing depending on region and family, as traditions may vary. However, cremations in Indian culture usually occur within one or two days after a death but can be delayed to await the arrival of distant mourners to the ceremony. After the cremation, a religious ceremony is carried-out by the family of the dead, involving a reading of the Guru Granth Sahib, known as a '' Sehaj Pāth''. In Sikhism, death is considered a natural process and God's will or Hukam. To a Sikh, birth and death are closely associated, because they are both part of the cycle of human life of "coming and going" ( ਆਵਣੁ ਜਾਣਾ, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Anand Karaj
Anand Karaj () is the Sikh wedding ceremony, meaning "Act towards happiness" or "Act towards happy life", that was introduced by Guru Amar Das. The four ''laavaan'' (hymns which take place during the ceremony) were composed by his successor, Guru Ram Das. Although the recitation of Guru Amar Das' stanzas in Sikh ceremonies is a historical and enduring tradition, the practice of circumambulating around the Guru Granth Sahib to conduct a marriage ceremony is a relatively recent innovation that supplanted the tradition of circumambulating around the sacred fire (havan) in the early twentieth century. Within the community, Anand Karaj is governed by the Sikh Reht Maryada (Sikh code of conduct and conventions) that was issued by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC). In a recent verdict of the Akal Takht, a Hukamnama, Anand Karaj can only take place in a Gurudwara, Gurdwara (Sikh temple). Any Khalsa#Modern status, Amritdhari (baptized) Sikh may perform the marriage cerem ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Naam Karan
Naam Karan () refers to the Sikh ceremony of naming a child, typically conducted at a Gurdwara, a Sikh place of worship. The timing of the ceremony is flexible and not bound by a strict schedule. The well-being of both the mother and child is paramount, and the ceremony is usually scheduled based on their health and recovery. Steps of the ceremony The ceremony, though not mandated to occur at a specific time, usually occurs once the mother has made a recovery from childbirth. During the Naam Karan ceremony, typically, the father or a senior family member contacts a local Gurdwara to organize a brief ceremony. On the day of the ceremony, the family, guests, along with the mother and baby, participate in the congregation's weekly kirtan (devotional singing). The family arranges for Karah Prasad to be prepared for the occasion, whether that entails preparing it at and bringing it from their family home or it being prepared at the gurdwara itself. Various Shabads (hymns) express ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hukamnama
A Hukamnama ( Punjabi: ਹੁਕਮਨਾਮਾ, translit. ''Hukamanāmā''), in modern-times, refers to a hymn from the Guru Granth Sahib which is given as an injunction, order, or edict to Sikhs. It also refers to edicts issued by the contemporary Takhts. In the historical sense, it was used to refer to an issued commandment, instruction, injunction, order, or edict given by one of the Gurus of Sikhism or their officiated followers and associates during their lives. Nowadays, after the period of human gurus, the Hukumnama refers to a hymn from a randomly selected left-hand side page from the Guru Granth Sahib on a daily basis in the morning. This is seen as the order of God for that particular day. The Hukamnama is distributed and then read aloud in Gurdwaras throughout the world. The verse taken from this ceremony is referred to as Vak or Hukam. Etymology Hukamnama, is a compound of two words '' hukam'', meaning command or order, and ''namah'', meaning statement. Hist ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ardās
The Ardās (, pronunciation: ) is a set prayer in Sikhism. It is a part of worship service in a Gurdwara (Sikh temple), daily rituals such as the opening the ''Guru Granth Sahib'' for ''prakash'' (morning light) or closing it for ''sukhasan'' (night bedroom) in larger Gurdwaras, closing of congregational worship in smaller Gurdwaras, rites-of-passages such as with the naming of child or the cremation of a loved one, daily prayer by devout Sikhs and any significant Sikh ceremonies. An Ardas consists of 3 parts. The first part recites the virtues of the ten Gurus of Sikhism from Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh, starting with lines from '' Chandi di Var'' from the '' Dasam Granth''. The second part recites the trials and triumphs of the Khalsa and petition. The third salutes the divine name. The first and the third part are set and cannot be changed, while the second part may vary, be shortened and include a supplication such as seeking divine help or blessing in dealing with dai ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Akhand Path
An Akhand Path (, ) is the continuous and uninterrupted recitation of the Guru Granth Sahib, also known as ''Akhand Path Sahib''. Purpose The recital - (Path) is undertaken for various reasons. It can be in honour of a particular occasion; to mark a happy or sad occasion within the family; or simply to increase one’s feeling of connection to Waheguru. Some of following may call for an Akhand Path depending on the family's circumstances: a birth, a birthday, recovery from a medical operation, a wedding, a death, a graduation, on achieving a goal like a high school certificate, on passing the driving test, an anniversary, or a historic occasion. Procedure The continuous nonstop recitation of all the verses in the Guru Granth Sahib from the beginning to the end, in 31 Ragas as specified, in all 1430 pages, lasts more than 48 hours by a team of readers. Nearby, over a container of water a coconut is kept wrapped in saffron or white cloth. A ghee lamp is also kept burning. Thi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Paath
Paath or Path ( Punjabi: ਪਾਠ ), from the Sanskrit patha which means reading or recitation, is, in the religious context, reading or recitation of the holy texts. In Sikhism, comprehension of what is being read is considered more important than ritual recitation Guru Granth Sahib. Background Paath is the recitation of Gurbani. However it is considered lower than gurbani vichar/discussion. It can also be called prayers of some instances. It may be done individually or in a group; it can be the recitation of one’s Banis or any part of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib, alone or with others listening or reciting along. The person reciting Gurbani should pronounce every syllable correctly so that the Naad, the sound current may be produced and affect the consciousness of the one reciting and the one listening. Gurbani may be recited in the Sadh Sangat at any time, whether or not one is in the presence of Siri Guru Granth Sahib. A beautiful form of recitation in a group is to d ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sukhmani Sahib
Sukhmani Sahib (), known under the title of Gauri Sukhmani in the scripture (named after the Gauri (raga), Gauri raga musical measure it belongs to), is usually translated to mean ''Prayer of Peace'' is a set of 192 ''Pada (foot), padas'' (stanzas of 10 hymns) present in the holy ''Guru Granth Sahib'', the main scripture and living Guru of Sikhism from ''Ang'' 262 to ''Ang'' 296 (about 35 count). This Gurbani text (writing of the Sikh gurus, Gurus) was written by the 5th Guru, Guru Arjan (1563–1606) at Amritsar in around 1602. Guru Arjan first recited the bani at Gurdwara Barth Sahib in the Gurdaspur district of Punjab, India. Content The composition deals with such topics such as ''Simran'' (general meditation that leads to merging with God) and ''Naam Japo, Nam Japna'' (meditation of ''Naam''), the greatness of Sant (religion), Saints and ''Sadh Sangat'' (holy congregation), true devotion, doing good deeds, the nature of the mind, the badness of slandering, concepts relating ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kirtan
Sikh ''kirta''n with Indian harmoniums and '' Kenya.html" ;"title="tabla'' drums (a common and popular pairing), in Kenya">tabla'' drums (a common and popular pairing), in Kenya (1960s) ''Kirtana'' (; ), also rendered as ''Kiirtan'', ''Kirtan'' or ''Keertan'', is a Sanskrit word that means "narrating, Bhajan, reciting, telling, describing" of an idea or story, specifically in Indian religions. It also refers to a genre of religious performance arts, connoting a musical form of narration, shared recitation, or devotional singing, particularly of spiritual or religious ideas, native to the Indian subcontinent. A person performing kirtan is known as a ''kirtankara'' (or ''kirtankar,'' कीर्तनकार). With roots in the Vedic ''anukirtana'' tradition, a kirtan is a call-and-response or antiphonal style song or chant, set to music, wherein multiple singers recite the names of a deity, describe a legend, express loving devotion to a deity, or discuss spiritual idea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Asa Di Var
''Asa di Var'' (Gurmukhi: ਆਸਾ ਦੀ ਵਾਰ) meaning "A ballad of hope", is a collection of 24 stanzas (''pauris'') in the Guru Granth Sahib, from ang 462 to ang 475. Some people argue that the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev, wrote the first 9 stanzas together on one occasion and later wrote 15 more on a different occasion; however, some Sikh scholars believe that the whole '' vaar'' was written at the same place as the ''vaar'' itself proceeds in a definite uniformity. The whole ''vaar'' was compiled by Guru Arjan, the fifth Guru, in 1604 AD. Overview When Guru Arjan was compiling the Guru Granth Sahib, he added a few ''sloks'' of Guru Nanak and in some cases Guru Angad, the second Guru. These sloks are tied together in a way that they relate to the same theme as highlighted in the pauri. In its present form, the ''Asa Di Var'' contains a few more shabads recited by Guru Ram Das Guru Ram Das (Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰੂ ਰਾਮ ਦਾਸ, pronunciation: ; 24 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
